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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dogs in cars

97 replies

Grumpybearblue · 05/06/2018 15:42

This was were they being unreasonable.

Just getting ds and shopping into car in tesco. Man parked next to me was lingering. He was early 60s.
Two woman of around the same age get out their car and start walking in my direction towards the shop.

Man walks over and starts shouting about them leaving the dog in the car. The woman says the cars in the shade so it's fine. He continues to have a go at her. She then starts dancing and singing nosey parker.

Now, he wasn't that close to them so although he was shouting it wasn't in their faces.

I'm a bit on the fence. He's right the dog shouldn't be left in the car. I've never once left my dog in the car regardless of the weather. It would be distressing for him and he's an intact pedigree so I'd worry he'd be nicked.
But it made me feel uncomfortable that a man was shouting at a woman and he didn't actually know how long she was going to be, it wasn't really any of his business.

So what do you think. Should he have stepped in to stick up for the dog. Or assumed the woman was not leaving the dog for long and kept out of it.

Just to add, it is a big tesco and she did go on to get a trolly. She also parked in parent and child so the car was in the 'shade'. It was also hot but cloudy today where I was.

The man then took pictures of the dog in the car. So guess he's going to report or publicly shame her.

OP posts:
SharronNeedles · 05/06/2018 19:41

A dog could have died and you're upset because a man shouted at a woman?? Wow your priorities are fucked up.
A man. Shouted. At a woman. I don't know how she coped?! Did she not faint with shock? Didn't he realise she was a woman and therefore a delicate flower?

It's legal to smash a window if you see a dog suffering in a hot car providing you have proof.

I'm amazed you left to be honest. As if you're saying your baby couldn't wait an extra half hour for lunch? You should have stayed and reported it

siwel123 · 05/06/2018 20:25

They were in the wrong. Simple.
Regardless of his attitude, you think he is as and as them, when they could let a dog die?
Honestly beggars belief, someone shouts at someone for risking an animals life and that's all you care about?

siwel123 · 05/06/2018 20:27

Bad as them I meant

Slartybartfast · 05/06/2018 20:37

I left my dog in the car while I nipped into Tesco and she showed her displeasure by pooing on my seat! And this was after a walk!
I try and make sure she is walked before leaving her in the car, window open, lead taken off, parked in shade, and a quick dash, no trolley

Original poster
Grumpybearblue · 05/06/2018 20:45

A dog could have died and you're upset because a man shouted at a woman??

I'm not upset, I said it made me feel uncomfortable and made me feel I couldn't side with him. I don't think aggression is ever acceptable.

OP posts:
counterpoint · 05/06/2018 22:22

made me feel I couldn't side with him

You're not in a school playground. It's not about 'siding' with the man or the woman.

Any common sense you might possess should be about the potential danger for the dog left in a car .... helpless .... trapped!

Excuses about AC etc don't cut it with me because I've seen endless failures when people have relied on technology.

LEAVE YOUR DOG AT HOME NOT IN A CAR!

MissGiddyPants · 05/06/2018 22:53

Seriously calm down.

Dondie · 05/06/2018 23:01

I would have yelled in their faces too and if they left he dog I’d have called 999. There’s loads of posts on social media by the police to say to do exactly that if you see a dog left in the car. And report them to the supermarket for parking in a parent and child and they can pay the £70 fine too. They are dickheads and deserve it.

MissGiddyPants · 05/06/2018 23:14

I leave my dog in the car frequently when at the local supermarket. Are you seriously suggesting someone should call the police? In February? April?

siwel123 · 05/06/2018 23:17

If the animal is suffering then yes. Suffering can include showing signs of distress etc. So if I saw an animal in distress in a car on a cold day I would ring. If it wasn't in any distress I may log with 101 or tell store security and ask them to ring if the owner of the vehicle isn't back within say 30 minutes max.
On a hot day regardless of the condition then I would ring.

MissGiddyPants · 05/06/2018 23:20

So do you walk around peering into cars to check if there is a dog?

Original poster
Grumpybearblue · 06/06/2018 11:11

MissGiddyPants

It want february or April though, it was yesterday. And April can also get pretty hot.

Is your dog a pedigree? Dogs also get stolen from cars.

OP posts:
Cath2907 · 06/06/2018 11:23

There was a youtube video a vet had done where he sat in a car with the windows cracked on a warm but breezy day. Within 15 mins it had reached 50oC inside the car and he was visibly distressed. Within 30 mins he said he had no choice but to leave. As he pointed out he KNEW he could get out if he wanted to and he wasn't wearing a fur coat. The dog has no idea how long you are going to be all he knows is he is very very uncomfortable.

The man should perhaps have started off without shouting but sometimes you just lose your patience with idiots who won't put helpless animals first. I have rescued dogs from shop car parks before (reporting to the shop to get a tannoy message out and threatening to call the police).

siwel123 · 06/06/2018 11:26

No I don't but if I happen to see one I will intervene.

Barbaro · 06/06/2018 11:27

I'd have shouted at her too, and after she walked away phoned the police to get permission to smash the window to let the poor thing out and taken it to the local sspca. Dumb idiots don't deserve a dog.

oblada · 06/06/2018 19:44

'If the animal is suffering then yes. Suffering can include showing signs of distress etc. So if I saw an animal in distress in a car on a cold day I would ring. If it wasn't in any distress I may log with 101 or tell store security and ask them to ring if the owner of the vehicle isn't back within say 30 minutes max.
On a hot day regardless of the condition then I would ring.'

Why would u do anything on a cold day if the dog is happy? How nosy do you have to be? My dog is very happy chilling in the car. Not when it's hot of course. Again - common sense!

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 06/06/2018 19:52

How did you get this Why would u do anything on a cold day if the dog is happy? How nosy do you have to be?
from this So if I saw an animal in distress in a car on a cold day I would ring. Hmm

I think you are just trying to justify what you do. How can you know that your dog is content if you are not there to witness it, the bottom line is that there is no justification for leaving a dog in a car in June, none!

siwel123 · 06/06/2018 20:55

Yes like I said if they're suffering and it's cold I will ring and take action. If they seem fine I will leave it but maybe ask store security to have a look in a while.

It's common sense to care about an animal and not want it to die

oblada · 06/06/2018 20:56

I was reacting to 'if it wasn't in distress I'd ring 101 or tell security etc' - that's a bloody cheek in my books! I know my dog is content in the car because I know my car and he's snoozing happily when I come back. Again wouldn't do it if hot. But in winter/mild weather I have no issue with it.

oblada · 06/06/2018 20:57

Crap I meant I know my dog!! Argh!

Fluffypinkpyjamas · 06/06/2018 21:03

Cracking open the window a bit isn’t ok. Parking in the shade isn’t ok. Dogs repeatedly die in hot cars. Shouting at some fucking twat that leaves a dog in a car is just fine with me. As is breaking the window if need be.

Pebblespony · 06/06/2018 21:04

I wouldn't if it was hot but I leave my guy in the car the whole time.

CantankerousCamel · 06/06/2018 21:04

I leave the dog in the car, in the shade when I have to.

She’s fine and loves the resulting walks and fun times due to her being with me.

That dog would be by my side every minute of the day

sonjadog · 06/06/2018 21:26

My dog loves being in the car. He hates being left at home. The car boot is his happy place. Sometimes at the weekends I leave the boot open and he goes and sleeps in it all morning.

Really, this is a matter for common sense. You consider the weather. Is it hot? Dog should not be in car. Dog should never be in direct sun at this time of year. If the air is hot, then dog should not be in shade either. If air is cool, there is a breeze blowing and dog is in the shade, then with the window open sufficiently then the dog will be fine. There is no blanket answer to this. Use your common sense.

SharronNeedles · 06/06/2018 21:31

A breeze does not really help much if it's warm as theres a huge chunk of metal blocking that lovely breeze from your dog. And opening the window a crack won't be enough to cool the car down sufficiently. Open it too much and you risk your dog and/or car being broken into.

If you wouldn't leave your child in the car, you shouldn't leave your dog.

There is a blanket answer, don't leave your dog in a car. There is no need to do it! Either leave them at home or bring them with you.